Ocala approves zoning change

39.5 acres on SW 42nd Street

Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 1:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 1:41 p.m.

The Ocala City Council has unanimously agreed to change the zoning from office park to community business on 39.5 acres fronting Southwest 42nd Street after the owner’s representative agreed to extend a buffer by an additional 50 feet to shield neighbors at the Villas of Paddock Park.

Attorney Steven Gray, representative for property owner BBR Development Corp., explained that there are development constraints on the property because it includes two cave entrances. He said nothing could be built on top of the caves, so rumors that a Costco store was being built there were untrue.

Gray said the new land use classification, low-intensity, is intended to be a mixed-use classification. He said the southwest corner near John Antonovich’s property in the Villas of Paddock Park is a stormwater retention pond.

Nevertheless, Gray proposed extending the buffer an additional 50 feet on the eastern edge of the property.

After hearing that, the neighbors seemed more amenable to the zoning change.

“I think everybody was pleased,” Antonovich said. “I am sure I would have heard from someone if they were unhappy about the results.”

Antonovich, whose property was at the southern end of the buffer, was concerned that he would be exposed to whatever ultimately is developed. He also was concerned that rather than offices, some business that could stay open around the clock might be built.

But the additional 50 feet buffer appeared to satisfy him.

“I think I’m fairly pleased with the outcome,” Antonovich said. “I think they will work to make the homeowners here happy with what goes in there.”

In other business Tuesday the City Council:

n Requested that two more alternatives to the current General Employees Pension plan be analyzed by the pension consultants. The council was concerned that the three plans it originally wanted analyzed may not result in the savings they had hoped.

The two new alternatives requested Tuesday include: a hybrid plan with both a defined benefit plan that is more modest than the Florida Retirement System along with a defined contribution plan; and an FRS look-alike defined plan that gives existing employees the option of joining a new defined contribution plan, while new employees would only be offered the defined contribution plan.

The schedule for council to review all the options has been moved back to April 16.

n Opened the first public hearing to consider approving a Chapter 163 Development Agreement with Ocala 489 LLC, owners of the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park, to ensure that the owner retains the same property rights he had prior to the city changing all the land uses in the city under the Future Land Use Element of the city’s comprehensive plan.

The second public hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. March 5 in council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.

n Adopted an ordinance amending the Enterprise Zone from five acres to 10 acres.

n Recognized Joshua Noel, a Vanguard High School senior, for his work on the logo for the city’s website.

n Amended the agreement with Billy Casper Golf, which manages the city-owned Ocala Golf Club, to clarify the monitoring expectations and rating systems as well as responsibilities for coordinating maintenance activities.

n Heard a presentation from Billy Casper Golf employees about the first quarter operations of Ocala Golf Club. It was said that, because of the winter weather conditions, the greens are not in as good a condition as hoped but that will be improved as the weather improves.

Also, regarding the food and beverage service, it was reported that a ventless fryer and grill that requires no hood system, new coolers and moving the electrical lines would cost an estimated $20,000. The company originally budgeted $30,000.

<p>The Ocala City Council has unanimously agreed to change the zoning from office park to community business on 39.5 acres fronting Southwest 42nd Street after the owner's representative agreed to extend a buffer by an additional 50 feet to shield neighbors at the Villas of Paddock Park.</p><p>Attorney Steven Gray, representative for property owner BBR Development Corp., explained that there are development constraints on the property because it includes two cave entrances. He said nothing could be built on top of the caves, so rumors that a Costco store was being built there were untrue.</p><p>Gray said the new land use classification, low-intensity, is intended to be a mixed-use classification. He said the southwest corner near John Antonovich's property in the Villas of Paddock Park is a stormwater retention pond.</p><p>Nevertheless, Gray proposed extending the buffer an additional 50 feet on the eastern edge of the property.</p><p>After hearing that, the neighbors seemed more amenable to the zoning change.</p><p>“I think everybody was pleased,” Antonovich said. “I am sure I would have heard from someone if they were unhappy about the results.”</p><p>Antonovich, whose property was at the southern end of the buffer, was concerned that he would be exposed to whatever ultimately is developed. He also was concerned that rather than offices, some business that could stay open around the clock might be built.</p><p>But the additional 50 feet buffer appeared to satisfy him.</p><p>“I think I'm fairly pleased with the outcome,” Antonovich said. “I think they will work to make the homeowners here happy with what goes in there.”</p><p>In other business Tuesday the City Council:</p><p>n Requested that two more alternatives to the current General Employees Pension plan be analyzed by the pension consultants. The council was concerned that the three plans it originally wanted analyzed may not result in the savings they had hoped.</p><p>The two new alternatives requested Tuesday include: a hybrid plan with both a defined benefit plan that is more modest than the Florida Retirement System along with a defined contribution plan; and an FRS look-alike defined plan that gives existing employees the option of joining a new defined contribution plan, while new employees would only be offered the defined contribution plan.</p><p>The schedule for council to review all the options has been moved back to April 16.</p><p>n Opened the first public hearing to consider approving a Chapter 163 Development Agreement with Ocala 489 LLC, owners of the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park, to ensure that the owner retains the same property rights he had prior to the city changing all the land uses in the city under the Future Land Use Element of the city's comprehensive plan.</p><p>The second public hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. March 5 in council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.</p><p>n Adopted an ordinance amending the Enterprise Zone from five acres to 10 acres.</p><p>n Recognized Joshua Noel, a Vanguard High School senior, for his work on the logo for the city's website.</p><p>n Amended the agreement with Billy Casper Golf, which manages the city-owned Ocala Golf Club, to clarify the monitoring expectations and rating systems as well as responsibilities for coordinating maintenance activities.</p><p>n Heard a presentation from Billy Casper Golf employees about the first quarter operations of Ocala Golf Club. It was said that, because of the winter weather conditions, the greens are not in as good a condition as hoped but that will be improved as the weather improves.</p><p>Also, regarding the food and beverage service, it was reported that a ventless fryer and grill that requires no hood system, new coolers and moving the electrical lines would cost an estimated $20,000. The company originally budgeted $30,000.</p><p>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 352-867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.</p>